Department profile
Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent

USA Guide 2026 : California


Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

As a leader in entertainment law, Manatt boasts some of the industry’s most respected, renowned and sought-after advisors across music, film, television, digital media and other burgeoning entertainment sectors, including podcasts, gaming and esports.

Manatt advises some of the nation’s most well-known and fastest-growing entertainment companies through high-profile M&A transactions; film, television and media financings; distribution deals; and other transformative transactions. The Firm’s talent-side practice has helped promote and protect its clients’ interests and drive highly negotiated, boundary-pushing deals. Manatt represents some of the most important artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including luminaries such as the Eagles, Migos, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Paul Anka, Neil Young, Diplo, ODESZA, Major Lazer, Steve Perry, John Lee Hooker, Jackson Browne and Tracy Chapman.

Each year, the Firm represents major lenders in hundreds of millions of dollars in film and television financings, and it has negotiated more than two billion dollars in catalog sales in the past year alone. Additionally, Manatt has been at the forefront of the growing non-fungible token (NFT) space, working alongside its Fintech practice to drive numerous deals and advise on associated intellectual property implications for a variety of clients.

Clients (9)

  • AT&T
  • Sony Pictures Entertainment
  • Perfect World Pictures Co., Ltd.
  • Huayi Brothers Media Corp.
  • IMAX Corporation
  • ProSiebenSat.1
  • CBS Broadcasting
  • Tang Media Partners
  • Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Industries (4)

  • Media
  • Private Clients / Individuals
  • Telecommunications
  • Entertainment

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent - California

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP has a deep bench of attorneys catering to talent as well as content companies and financiers. The firm offers expertise in all aspects of entertainment, including film, television, music and digital content transactions. The team is particularly experienced with negotiating complex financing deals, such as film slate financing. They represent prominent recording artists and songwriters as part of their respected talent practice.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP represented FilmRise in connection with their merger with Shout! Studios and the subsequent creation of Radial Entertainment.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team is made up of great communicators and helps to distill information with ease.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
  • The team's ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters is excellent. Its attorneys are adept at creative problem-solving when standard approaches won't work.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
  • The team exhibit intelligence, thoughtfulness, creativity and diligence.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
  • Manatt Phelps is incredibly responsive and brings a practical, business-oriented approach to deal negotiations. The firm has a strong grasp of both legal and industry-specific challenges in the live entertainment space.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 2Gary Gilbert
    Band 2Gary Gilbert

    Gary Gilbert

    Gary Gilbert represents an impressive roster of clients in the music industry, including prominent artists, producers and songwriters.
  • Band 2Jordan Bromley
    Band 2Jordan Bromley

    Jordan Bromley

    Jordan Bromley leads the firm's entertainment transactions and finance practice. He predominantly advises recording artists on the full gamut of music transactions.
    • Jordan approaches deals with a calm, solution-driven approach.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
    • Jordan is not just a lawyer, but a true partner in getting the deal done.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
  • Band 2Sophia Yen
    Band 2Sophia Yen

    Sophia Yen

    Sophia Yen is well regarded at the media and entertainment Bar, with expertise advising corporate clients on film and TV production and development deals. She is also active on financings and M&A deals.

    • Sophia constantly goes above and beyond as a service provider.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
    • Sophia is experienced, knowledgeable and commercial.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
  • Band 3Christopher Chatham
    Band 3Christopher Chatham

    Christopher Chatham

    Christopher Chatham is recognized for his strength in a range of transactional work in the entertainment space. He displays particular prowess in the negotiation of talent agreements and partnership deals.

    • Christ is a truly exceptional lawyer all around.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
  • Band 3Ellie Heisler
    Band 3Ellie Heisler

    Ellie Heisler

    Ellie Heisler leads the entertainment group at Nixon Peabody LLP. She is a go-to adviser for social media influencers and other individual and corporate clients in the media, entertainment and sports sectors.
    • Ellie is a great deal-maker.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA
  • Band 3Lee Phillips
    Band 3Lee Phillips

    Lee Phillips

    Lee Phillips is a highly experienced music attorney with an enviable client base consisting of recording artists, producers and composers.
    • Lee has been in the space for a long time and knows the industry well.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent respondentUSA

Ranked Individuals at Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP (6)

California

  • Profile image of Gary Gilbert

    Gary Gilbert

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent

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  • Profile image of Jordan Bromley

    Jordan Bromley

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent

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  • Profile image of Christopher Chatham

    Christopher Chatham

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent

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  • Profile image of Ellie Heisler

    Ellie Heisler

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent

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  • Profile image of Lee Phillips

    Lee Phillips

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent

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Members

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